School showcases renovations, additions

The Tonganoxie High girls basketball player made several stops during the school day at the THS gymnasium, where games would be played that night against Bonner Springs -- the first basketball games in the refurbished gymnasium.

"I was going through the gym to make sure it was ready," Weller explained.

The renovations, which Weller called "awesome," include a new floor and expanded balcony seating. The former boys locker room was turned into an athletic training room, while the former athletics director office, to the north, now is a film room for teams to review game footage.

Inside the gym, a new scorers' table is sandwiched between the two basketball team benches. And floor-level bleachers, which formerly were wooden bleachers, have been replaced with updated red bleachers.

To the west of the gymnasium, spacious new athletics and physical education locker rooms have been built.

In the new concourse north of the gymnasium, photos representing all Tonganoxie athletics teams are on display, as are team photos, trophies and individual athletes' accomplishments.

And, inside the gymnasium, the walls eventually will be dotted with Kaw Valley League team logos, as well as "We have more to do, it's just time," Parker said.

The first night in the restored gymnasium proved to be an exciting one. Both THS basketball teams won. In fact, the boys won an overtime thriller against Bonner Springs.

"My ears are still ringing from it," Chieftain player Jeff Hughes said after the game about the level of crowd noise in the arena.banners signifying league, regional and state accomplishments.

Athletics director Brandon Parker said he's also looking to eventually display photos of past Tonganoxie teams outside the gymnasium.